Signal.



PATBNTED- NOV. 6, 1906.

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INVENTOR C HAHLES HDOWLER By ATTUHNEYS C. R. D OWLBR. SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. l90v6.

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SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.1Z. 1906.

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CHARLES R .Dom/LER y PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT omuon.

CHARLES R. DOWLER, OF LAMAR, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLO- RADORAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

SIGNAL.

Patented Nov. 6, 190e.

Application filed January 12, 1906. Serial No. 295.732.

T0 all whomJ r3 may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. DowLER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Lamar, in the county of Prowers and State of Colorado,Ahave invented a new and Improved Signal, of which the following is aspecication,

My invention may be characterized as an automatic danger-signal designedfor location near the approach of a railway-bridge at places alongrailway-trackage and on public roads where through action of high waterthe bridge may be washed away or rendered unsafe and places along thetrack or roadway made dangerous by washouts, land-slides, or due toother impediment. to travel.

The invention comprehends new and improved vsignal means adapted,through electric circuit means, for operation, holding the signal at"safety during closed circuit and for automatic danger display upon opencircuit being formed and also the display of electric lights duringcontinued danger position of the signal.

The invention further comprehends means locking the signal devices atdanger position and also for retaining completion of the light-circuitoperative through manual manipulation and the said means accessible onlyto an authorized person.

The invention consists of the peculiar devices and combination offeatures illustrated by the accompanying drawings and hereinafter fullydescribed, the novelty being pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in illustration of my invention. Fig. 2is an enlarged detail view of the signal-case with the apparatus shownarranged therein. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, in side elevation,of electromagnets and attached devices. Fig. 4 is a sectional detailview of the devices holding and locking the target at danger adjustment.Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail top plan view of the features illustratedin Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the partsillustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a reduced perspective view of thesignal-case em loyed by me.

n the practice of my invention I would employ signal devices located onopposite sides of some danger-point and arrange them in sets of two,employing as many sets as occasion may require, though my drawings showone set thereof.

The signal devices are arranged in any suitable inclosure A, havingelevated su port, by means of a post B or other suitab e elevatedsupport.

My drawings illustrate one side of the case open; but it is intended tohave a door closing the opening and the same be securely locked againstaccess to the interior of the case by unauthorized persons.

E denotes any desired form of target or semaphore device having supportat the up per end of a shaft F, extended above and from Within the caseA, the lower end of the shaft being rotatably stepped into a suitablesocket G and secured therein by engagement of a set-screw H, entering asuitable groove around the shaft F. (See broken-away portion of thesocket in Fig. 2.) 4

I denotes a spring on the lower end of the shaft F, having one endsecured to the shaft and its other end secured to the socket G. Thefunction of this spring is to effect rotation of the shaft F, as willappear further on.

On the shaft F, I arrange a transverselydisposed armJ, constructed ofconductive material. I will here state that the shaft F and its socket Gare also constructed of conductive material.

In the case and to one side of the shaft F I arrange an uprightsubstantially A-shaped frame K, having an upper flat portion L and alower bracing member M. O denotes a similar-shaped upright framesuitably located on the opposite side of the shaft F, having its upperportion iiattened similar to the upper portion of the frame K.

Windows P are provided in opposite ends of the case A for the display ofincandescent lights Q, located within the case. The lights are supportedby tubular standards R, substantially as shown.

S denotes electromagnets having a common vibrating armature T. Thevibrator has one side connected with a reciprocating rodU and its otherside provided with suitabledcheck-screws V, as will be well understooIOO It will be noticed that the upper end of the rod Uis arranged in avertical opening through the iiattened upper portion of the frame O. Therod is placed under downward tension through means of asuitably-connected spring WV. At downward adjustment of the rod U it isdesigned that its upper end shall be positioned just below the uppersurface of the flattened portion L of the frame O.

Upon reference to Fig. 3 of my drawings i t will be seen that when thevibrator or armature T is drawn down through completion of an electriccircuit in the magnets its connection with the rod U operates, forcingsame upwardly against tension of the spring W, the construction of partsbeing adapted for moving the rod endwise to position, leaving its upperend projecting above the flattened portion L for the purpose describedfurther A denotes a sliding bolt on the frame K, having a spring Barranged thereon and confined between the brace member M of the frame Kand a suitably-secured washer C, the washer being located on the boltsufficiently below its upper end, permitting suitable projection thereofthrough an opening in the flattened portion L of the frame K. On theupper surface of the flattened portion just mentioned l arrange a stopdevice D at one side of the bolt-opening therethrough and aflix ayielding contact-plate E upon said flattened portion, locating same onthe opposite side of said bolt-opening.

The lower end of the sliding bolt A is fashioned into any suitablehandle F, whereby to facilitate its manual retraction or adjustment fromlocking action, described further on.

in further carrying out my invention l employ any suitable electricsupply, a battery being illustrated in my drawings and the same shown4in circuit with the magnets S through and wires, which latter lead inclosed circuit from the place of dangeras, for instance, any suitablenormally closed switch (indicated at G) adapted to be opened by actionof a float upon dangerous fioods in a river or other streams of water ora break being produced inthe line-wires j washing away of a bridge(indicated at H) or from its otherwise being rendered dangerous. lt willbe understood that the linewires just described, or target-circuit, assame may be termed, should be arranged crossing the bridge H', adaptedto be broken through rupture of its structure.

It is further contemplated extending the target-circuit wires alongportions of the road (indicated at I) where land-slides are liable tooccur, the wires being supported adapted to be broken by weight of thefalling rock, earth., Sac., liable to produce dangerous obstructions totravel.

J denotes suitable electric-battery supply, whose circuit from one polethereof may be traced along the wire l, extending up one light-supportR, thence down same by the wire 2, with the latter extending to and upthe other light-support R, and then theredown, ending with a wire 3,leading to a binding-post Kl on the conductive frame K. The other poleof the battery is placed in cir cuit with the target-shaft socket Gr bya wire 4.

The construction and arrangement of my improved signal will beunderstood from the above description. In its use the arm J is adjustedfrom its full-line position to position indicated by dotted lines inFig. 2, whereat it is held through locking engage ment of the rod U, thelatter being retained into shoved-up adjustment by means of theenergized magnets S and operation of their vibrator or armature T.

According to my invention when the arm J is adjusted to positionindicated by dotted lines and locked thereat, as above described, thetarget displays safety and will be so retained so long as closed circuitis maintained in the line-circuit indicated by the characters Upon abreak being produced in the line-circuit the magnets will be denergizedand the rod U pulled down from locking engagement with the arm J byaction of the spring W. The arm J being thus freed, it is apparent thattension of the spring l at the lower end of the shaft F will impartrotation of the shaft, swinging the arm J from position over the frame Oto the position indicated by full lines over the frame K, its adjustmentbeing gaged by the stop device D on the frame K and conductive contactinsured through action of the springplate E. (See Fig. 4.) Now with thearm J adjusted as just described the target will display danger, andduring continuance of danger display of the target the lights will be inclosed circuit with the battery J traced by the numerals l 2 3,binding-post K, frame K, the arm J, target-shaft F, the socket Gr, andthe wire 4.

My invention is peculiar in that the target is locked at safety displayduring continuance of closed circuit through the line-wire and also inbeing adapted upon a break being produced in the line-wires forautomatic action, adjusting the target to danger display, whereat it islocked and insured against being tampered with by unauthorized persons.It is further peculiar in the display of signal-lights retained atdisplay during continuance of danger display of the target or semaphoredevice.

What l claim is- 1. A signal employing a signal-device shaft, apparatusand closed electric circuit means locking same at safety, means eX-erting a constant readjusting stress or tension on the signal-shaft,while the same is held at safety, whereby to readjust said shaft whenreleased by a break in the said circuit, and means retaining the signalat danger against the shifting thereof to safety.

2. A signal employing apparatus and IOO closed electric-circuit means,locking same at safety, means adapted to shift the signal to. danger,upon a break being produced in said circuit, means retaining the lsignalat danger, electric lights With suitable circuit having closing meanstherein, the closing means being adapted for cutting in the lights,conjointly With shifting action of the signal to danger, and meansretaining closure of the light-circuit, during continuance of dangerdisplay of the signal.

3. A signal employing a suitable case, having a door, adapted to belocked closed, a movable shaft extending from Within the case andprojecting therefrom, a signal device on the outer end of the shaft, abearing Within the case providing support for said shaft, means adaptedto move or adjust the shaft upon release thereof, means adapted to lockthe signal-shaft at safety, apparatus and electric circuits Withcurrent-supply, adapted during continued closure of the electriceircuits to hold the signalshaft at safety, and means adapted to lockthe signal-shaft When adjusted to danger position, the combinedapparatus consisting of the shaft-support, means for adjusting it, thelocking means and means wherethrough the locking means is operated,being located in the case.

4. A signal employing a suitable case, having a door, adapted to belocked, a movable shaft extending from Within the case and projectingtherefrom, a signal device on the outer end of the shaft, a bearingWithin the case, providing support for said shaft, means adapted to moveor adjust the shaft upon release thereof, means adapted to lock thesignal-shaft at safety,

apparatus `and electric l circuits With current-supply, adapted duringcontinued closure of the electric circuits, to hold the signal shaft atsafety, means adapted to lock the signal-shaft When adjusted to dangerposition, electric lights adapted for display through suitable WindoWsin the case, circuits and current-supply for the lights, and meansadapted to effect closure of the light-circuits, and retaining closurethereof during continued danger display of the signal device.

5. The combination in a signal, of a suitable case, having a Window inits side Wall, a rotatable shaft projecting from Within the case andprovided at its outer end With a signal device, a transversely-disposedarm on the shaft, means for locking said arm holding the shaft andsignal device at safety, means employingelectromagnets in circuit Withsuitable current-supply, Wherethrough the arm-locking means is retained,holding same at safety position during continued closed circuit of theelectromagnets, means for releasing the signal-shaft upon a break beingproduced in the electromagnet-circuit, means for rotating thesignal-shaft to danger upon release thereof, means for locking thesignalshaft at danger, electric lights With circuits and current-supply,and means cutting in the lights upon shifting action of the signal-shaftto dangerthelight-cutting-in means being adapted to maintain closure oftheir circuit, during danger display of the signal.

CHARLES R. DOWLER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A, MERRILL, MARSENA J. MGMILLIN.

